looting at 10 am in the morning and it continued until around 6 pm when
the shop was completely empty. The store’s warehouse was also
raided and emptied, cash registers were stolen and security cameras
were destroyed. In the complex, a uniforms’ shop was also raided and
looted but the damage to Choppies was the most extensive. The rest
of the shops at the complex were not vandalized or looted.
5.2.3. It was also observed at the complex that OK was open. There were
long queues before entering the shop which were being controlled by
members of the Zimbabwe National Army. The shop was also full of
people who were basically stocking the basic necessities like mealie
meal, sugar, rice and other food stuffs. The queues could have been
necessitated by the fact that shops were closed for a number of days
such that people were stranded or the fear that things might go up since
there was a hike in fuel prices. Discussions with members of the
Zimbabwe National Army who were controlling the queues revealed
that they had specifically been asked by the business owners who had
been requested to open their shops to assist them as they were afraid
of having their shops looted. They also indicated that it was not
desirable for people to purchase their wares in an environment
controlled by the army but that nothing could be done since businesses
were refusing to operate without their protection which was
understandable considering how other businesses had been looted.
5.2.4. The ZHRC was also informed that someone had been shot during the
clash between the police and those who were demonstrating on 14
January 2019. It was highlighted that the funeral was still ongoing.
ZHRC then went to the funeral which was being held in Unit A
Chitungwiza of a 22 year old man. From the discussions with the
deceased’s 4 aunts who were at the house at the time of the ZHRC
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